The economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic poses a triple challenge for tax policy in the United States. Lawmakers are tasked with crafting a policy response that will accelerate the economic recovery, reduce the mounting deficit, and protect the most vulnerable.
To assist lawmakers in navigating the challenge, and to help the American public understand the tax changes being proposed, the Tax Foundation’s Center for Federal Tax Policy modeled how 70 potential changes to the tax code would affect the U.S. economy, distribution of the tax burden, and federal revenue.
In tax policy there is an ever-present trade-off among how much revenue a tax will raise, who bears the burden of a tax, and what impact a tax will have on economic growth. Armed with the information in our new book, Options for Reforming America’s Tax Code 2.0, policymakers can debate the relative merits and trade-offs of each option to improve the tax code in a post-pandemic world.
Improving Tax Treatment of R&D Would Boost Productivity and Growth
As Congress debates expensing and other policies impacting business investment, lawmakers should consider the importance of business investment in research and development (R&D) as a driver for economic growth. Recent studies suggest that the economic benefits of R&D spending are even greater than previously understood.
7 min read
States Lose When Credit Unions Acquire Banks
A tax preference originally designed to level the playing field now has the opposite effect, creating preferences for one class of financial institutions even though the distinctions between credit unions and banks are increasingly blurred.
6 min read
Fiscal Forum: Future of the EU Tax Mix with Dr. Christoph Spengel
Tax Foundation Europe’s Sean Bray had the opportunity to interview Professor of International Taxation at the University of Mannheim Business School, Christoph Spengel, about the future of the EU tax mix.
15 min read
Taxes Still Affect Economic Growth, Contrary to Findings of Flawed IPS Study
The Institute for Policy Studies (IPS) only succeeds in demonstrating that America has more millionaires than it used to, not that high-tax states are doing well in attracting or retaining them.
7 min read
Trump Floats Replacing Income Tax with Tariffs: Five Things To Know
President Trump has repeatedly floated the idea of entirely replacing the federal income tax with new tariffs. Recently, he has said that when tariff revenues come in, he will use them to replace or substantially cut income taxes for people making under $200,000.
8 min read
Raising the Top Income Tax Rate Would Offset Economic Benefits of TCJA Individual Permanence
Raising the top income tax rate would raise several hundred billion dollars but would offset most of the pro-growth effects of making the TCJA’s individual tax provisions permanent by reducing incentives to work and invest.
5 min read
North Carolina Should Refine Its Tax Reduction Triggers
By implementing a more sophisticated and nuanced trigger system for its tax reduction goals, North Carolina can sustain its trajectory toward lower tax rates, reinforce its reputation as a business-friendly state, and ensure long-term fiscal stability in an ever-changing economic landscape.
4 min read
Tax Treatment of Hemp and Other Intoxicants
Hemp, intoxicating or otherwise, is a growing market that needs to be addressed with tax policy. A well-designed tax will generate tax revenues for states while improving public health by shifting consumers away from illicit markets.
5 min read
The Fiscal Consequences of Increased German Spending
Without aligning fiscal discipline with pro-growth tax policies, Germany and the EU risk high deficits, mounting debt, and sustained inflation.
5 min read
Fiscal Forum: Tax Foundation Europe Interview with Italian Vice-Minister Maurizio Leo
Daniel Bunn had the opportunity to interview the Vice-Minister for Economy and Finance of Italy, Maurizio Leo, about the tax policy priorities of the Italian government. The conversation shows a commitment to reforming rules that create legal uncertainty and support competitiveness.
5 min read